Charles a



(No ModeL) (LA. CHEEVER.

HOLDER FOR ELEOTRIG CANDLES. 7 No. 259,367. Patented Jun'e13,1882.

' ummlummmm INVENIOR BY ATTORNEY UNiTED STATES CHARLES A. CHEEVER, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

HOLDER FOR ELECTRIC CANDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,367, dated June 13,1882.

Application filed March 28, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. OHEEVER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Holders forElectric Candles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the holding-clamp employed for holding andcompleting the electric circuit to electric candles of the general typein which two parallel conducting sticks or carbons are employed, betweenthe ends of which the electric arc is maintained as the candle isconsumed, and the formation of the are at any point nearer the base isprevented by interposed insulated material, by a current of air, or byother suitable means.

The object of myinvention is to preventthe disruption of the generalcircuit when a spent or broken candle is removed; and to this end myinvention consists in attaching to one of the clamping-jaws of theholder a circuit-closing spring or point, suitablyarranged so as to makeelectrical contact or connection with the opposite jaw or with a stop inelectrical connection therewith before the candle leaves the holder, andto be forced and held out of contact therewith when a candle isinserted.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows one form of holding-clampto which my invention is applied, the candle being shown in place in theholder. Fig. 2 is a view of the holder with the candle removed and theparts in position for preserving the general circuit. Fig. 3 is amodification in which the circuitclosing spring is attached to the fixedinstead of to the movable jaw.

A represents the base of the lamp, and B the post, having at its upperend the grooved fixed jaw of the holder and at its lower end thebinding-post for attachment of one of the circuibwires.

O is the post which carries the movable clamping-jaw, and which isprovided at its lower end with binding-post for the other circuit wire.

D is the movable clamping-jaw, grooved at its clamping face, where itbears against the base of the candle F, and mounted in a slotin the topof the post O. Said jaw is pivoted upon a pin passing through a slot inthe tailpiece (No model.)

of the jaw, so that the jaw can move bodily toward the candle, or canturn upon its pivot, thus accommodating itself to the side of thecandle. A spring, 0, bears against the tailpiece at a point below thepivot and forces the jaw against the candle. As thus made the holder isof ordinary construction. At G is shown a circuit-closing springconnected in any suitable manner to the jaw D, and so arranged that whenthe candle is removed from the holder said spring will make contact withthe post B, or a projection therefrom, thus completing and preservingthe circuit between G and B. This spring is so arranged as to makecontact with said post at the moment before the candle breaks contactwith the holder, so that no actual break in the general circuit canoccur. By preference the portion of the post with which the spring makescontact is formed into a flat surface, so as to make a goodcontact-surface for the spring. Fig.1 shows the spring out of contactwith the post, the circuit being then from one post to the other throughthe candle. Fig. 2 shows the circuit completed by the spring, the candlebeing out ofits socket, and the lower end of the clamp being swung tothe left by the action of spring E.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the circuit-closing spring G isattached to the fixed jaw in such position that when the candle isinserted into the clamp the lower end of the candle bears against thespring and forces and holds it out of contact with the contactstud H,

-connected to the post carrying themovablejaw.

When the candle is removed the spring comes into contact with the studH, or with the post itself, and preserves the general circuit. Bypreference the contact-points and springs are so formed that rubbingcontact is made, thus keeping the contact-surfaces bright and clean.

My invention may be applied to electric-candle holders of other forms,and the form of the circuit-closing parts may be varied in many wayswithout departing from the invention.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination substantially as de*scribed, with the spring holding-clamp for an electric candle, of acircuit-closing spring connected to one side of the clamp, and arranged,

as described, so as to make contact with the 2. The combination,substantially as described, with the spring holding-clamp for anelectric candle, of a circuit-closing spring or point attached to themovable portion of the clamp, and arranged so as to make contact withthe opposite portion of the clamp when the candle is removed.

3. The combination, substantially as described, with the holding-clampfor an electric candle, of a circuit-closing spring attached to themovable pivoted clamping-jaw, and arranged so as to make contact withthe post carrying the fixed jaw when the candle is removed.

4. The combination of the fixed jaw mounted [5 Signed at New York, inthe county of New 20 York and State of New York, this 27th day of March,A. D. 1882.

CHAS. A. GHEEVER.

Witnesses:

W. L. GANDEE, B. G. BOILLEAU.

